Roberts has been working in the
office for the past three years under retiring Advocate Byron Harris.
“They’re big shoes to fill,” said
Roberts.
But she feels ready for the job. In
fact, she said there’s too much work to do not to hit the ground running. She
said the advocate’s office is an important voice for the rate payers of West Virginia
“[Before 1981] residential
customers didn’t have a voice in those proceedings,” she explained. “So it’s a
very important function of making regulation work well.”
Roberts will be fighting for
utility consumers of West Virginia
“It’s hard for residential
customers, especially when the economy isn’t robust or if you’re on a fixed
income,” according to Roberts.
She admitted the job is not for
everyone but it’s perfect for her.
“I’ve been doing this kind of work
for many years and I really enjoy it,” said Roberts. “I really enjoy the public
service aspect of it and giving customers a voice when they don’t have one.”
And West
Virginians will be hearing a lot of her voice as multiple rate
increases come before the state Public Service Commission in the months to
come.
